Suspended ceiling system



Dec. 31, 1968 w. R. JACKSON 3,418,766

SUSPENDED CEILING SYSTEM Filed Feb. 5. 1965 Sheet of 2 '7 W7 X 1W iesINVENTOR. WILLIAM R. dAcKsoN A TTORNE Y Dec. 31, 1968 w. R. JACKSON3,418,766

SUSPENDED CEILING SYSTEM Filed Feb. 3, 1965 Sheet I 2 of 2 INVENTOR.WILLIAM R. JACKSON ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,418,766 SUSPENDEDCEILING SYSTEM William R. Jackson, Greenville, S.C., assigner to McCallBros. & Co., a corporation of South Carolina Filed Feb. 3, 1965, Ser.No. 430,057 Claims. (Cl. 52-83) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A suspendedceiling for a structure having walls and a ceiling thereabove including,spaced thin parallel flexible wires extending across the ceiling in acriss-cross manner for supporting thin panels therebetween which haveflexible marginal downturned flap portions for securing such to thewires. A spring is secured to one end of each of the wires formaintaining such taut as the dimensions of the buildings vary due tosettlement and the like.

This invention relates to suspended ceilings and more particularly to asystem wherein ceiling blocks or tiles are suspended from a wiresuspension arrangement.

Several systems for suspending ceiling blocks or tiles from wires havebeen proposed. Such prior art systems have made no satisfactoryprovision for maintaining the wires in taut condition. As a result, suchceilings have been subject to a certain amount of sag due to graduallengthening of the Wire arrangements and changes in the position of thebuilding walls and ceiling resulting from settlement of the structure inwhich the ceilings were installed. Because the wire offers a limitedarea for attaching the ceiling tiles thereto, it is difficult inpractice to readily attach the blocks and labor costs have beenexcessive and the resulting ceilings were often unsightly due to thevisibility of the wire therebeneath. Prior art systems have not beenreadily amenable to additions such as insulation, lighting equipment,acoustical material, and fire extinguishing devices.

Accordingly, it is an important object of this invention to provide asuspended ceiling system wherein wires are maintained in a proper stateof tension through long periods of time, and wherein compensation mayautomatically be made for building settlement and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a suspended ceiling systemwhich may be erected at low cost from the standpoint of material andlabor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ceiling system which islight in weight and which may be easily washed and which produces anextraordinarily attractive effect.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a ceiling systemwherein a variety of fire extinguishing systems may be easily installed.

Another object of the invention is to produce a lightweight ceilingwherein the illuminating means may be positioned above or below theceiling.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a suspendedceiling system wherein blocks having high acoustical value may be usedwith suitable acoustical backing.

Still another important object of the invention is the provision of anovel fire extinguishing system incorporated in the ceiling system.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide tiles or blocks whichmay be stacked for easy compact shipment.

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The construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed, together with other features thereof.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawingsforming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown andwhere- FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating a suspended ceilingsystem constructed in accordance with the present invention,

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 1 wherein the ceilingtile or blocks have been installed and wherein the light fixture extendsbelow the ceiling rather than being positioned above as in FIGURE 1, andillustrating the method of installing the tiles,

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional elevation illustrating amodified form of the invention incorporating fire extinguishing means,

FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional view at a still further enlargedscale illustrating a further modification of the invention whereinincreased acoustical values are achieved,

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view illustrating a further modified form ofthe invention incorporating modified insulating and lighting features,and

FIGURE 6 is a transverse sectional elevation at a somewhat enlargedscale illustrating a modified form of the invention incorporating amodified fire extinguishing system.

The drawings illustrate a suspended ceiling including suitable framingmeans A spaced below and about the walls adjacent the ceiling. Firstspaced parallel wires B extend across the ceiling in one direction andsecond spaced parallel wires C extend across the ceiling normal to thefirst spaced parallel wires. A spring D is secured adjacent the ends ofthe first and second wires joining them to the walls adjacent theceiling. A plurality of thin panels E, each having a width such as tofit between adjacent wires, are provided. The panels E carry flexiblemarginal downturned flap portions F for securing the panels to adjacentwires. Certain of the flaps F extend directly over the wires while flapsof adjacent panels extend over such flaps. Sodium bicarbonate G may beplaced in or above the panels to serve as a first extinguishing agent.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates aceiling structure below which the ceiling of the present invention isadapted to be suspended. The side walls of the room are illustrated at11. Suitable framing means which may include 2 x 4s or other suitableframing members are designated at A. The 2 x 4 designated at 12 may besuitably secured by means of nails 13 to the side walls 11. FIGURE 1illustrates the positioning of a suitable duct, such as a heat or airconditioning duct 14, adjacent the ceiling 10 above the suspendedceiling arrangement of the present invention. A suitable illuminatingmeans, such as the light 15, has suitable electrical connections throughthe conduits 16, and illuminates from behind the panels of the presentinvention. It will be noted that a plurality of longitudinal ratherclosely spaced wires B are strung between suitable connecting hooks 17which are carried within the lower face of the framing members A. Thewires B may then be stretched or tensioned and a fastening means, suchas a nail 18, applied to position same. Intermittently throughout thecourse of the wires a resilient means, such as a coil spring 19, may behooked on one end intermediate wires B as at 20. The other end of thespring may be fastened as by a nail 21 to the framing A.

As to the transverse members C, such may be similarly provided withsprings D in the form of coil springs 22, which are fastened on one endas at 23 between courses of wire C and fastened as by a nail 24 on theother end to the adjacent wall 11. It will be noted from the drawingsthat the wire means C need not be so closely spaced as are the wires B.The wires B and C are preferably arranged normal to each other.

Preferably a number of depending portions of relatively stiff wire 25are provided. Such wire portions have a laterally bent lower portion tosupport the wires B and C intermediate their ends as at 26. The otherend of the wire 25 is fastened to the ceiling or floor above as by asuitable hook 27. A number of panels are illustrated in FIGURE 2 as atE. Such panels are preferably constructed from a suitable vinyl chlorideor the like, and are in the form of sheet material from about 8 tothousandths of an inch in thickness. Such tiles or blocks may beconstructed by a vacuum forming process. Pigments may be added, ifdesired, for light reflection or for transmitting light therethronghshould the light be positioned behind the ceiling as illustrated inFIGURE 5. It is important that the blocks E be constructed so as to becapable of being stacked for shipping. Due to the minimal thickness ofthe blocks such a system is suited for easy shipping in a minimum ofspace and for quick installation.

FIGURE 4 illustrates tiles or blocks having indentations as at 30, eachindentation carrying an opening 31 so as to impove the acousticalqualities of the ceiling and to provide openings for heated or cooledair to pass directly ther'ethrough. Referring again to FIGURE 3, it willbe noted that the tiles E are relatively flat, but are somewhat concavein overall shape. A marginal tile is illustrated at 32 in the left-handportion thereof, and it will be noted, as best shown in FIGURE 3, thatthe tile 32 has marginal flaps or flanges F formed by an integral sideportion 33, see FIGURE 2, substantially normal to the body of the tile,and an outer flap or section 34 which is curved back thereon andprojects toward the front of the panel to define a channel 35therebetween. The remaining tiles illustrated at 36 form the body of theceiling and are more concave forming the shape of a pillow block. Such,also, have indentations 30 therein. The flap F of the tile is shownbeing cut in FIGURE 2 to be placed on a marginal portion of the wire asillustrated at 37 to accommodate a fastening such as a hook 17 shown inFIGURE 3. Since the flaps may be installed over the wires and overadjacent flaps by finger pressure the installation of such a ceiling isquickly and easily accomplished without auxiliary tools. In FIGURE 2 alight fixture 38 is arranged to project below the ceiling tile.

FIGURE 3 illustrates the use of sodium bicarbonate G within the pillowblocks and marginal tiles. The indentations 30 have no openings therein.Should a fire occur the pillow blocks or tiles will char permitting thesodium bicarbonate powder to fall into the flames producing the carbondioxide to smother the fire. Acoustical material may be substituted forthe sodium bicarbonate if desired. Rather than the wires, as illustratedin FIGURES 1 and 2 at 25 for providing intermediate support for thewires B and C, a wire 38 is illustrated wherein the lower ends arewrapped as at 39 about the transverse Wires C, and wherein a clip 40 isprovided for attaching such wires to the ceiling. It will be noted thatthe spring D and its connecting means, in the form of a nail 21, arecarried by the 2 x 4 framing member 12.

FIGURE 4 shows the use of indentations 30 which are supplied with holes31 to improve the acoustical properties of the ceiling. FIGURE 4 alsoillustrates flap portions F of the adjacent tiles and illustrates theopenings 35 for accommodating the wire C. The opening 35 is illustratedas being formed by an arcuate portion 35a bridging the sides of theblocks and the downturned flap portion forming interlocking meansconnecting adjacent flaps of adjacent blocks. Adjacent flaps may besnapped into position by finger pressure.

FIGURE 5 shows the use of a rock wool sheet 41 adjacent the ceiling, andshows a fluorescent type light fixture 42 positioned behind the blocks.The translucent blocks are provided with suitable pigments to create adesired color effect for the ceiling.

If desired, a standard type sprinkle fire extinguisher system (notshown) may be employed. Another fire extinguisher system is illustratedin FIGURE 6 wherein tiles of the type described above, as best seen inFIGURE 2, are positioned upon wires C. Each of the tiles has asubstantially rigid backing member 43 positioned between the sides belowthe arcuate portions 35a. The pillow blocks are filled with sodiumbicarbonate G beneath the backing members 43 and an explosive charge,such as may be considered to be an enlarged firecracker 44, is carriedbeneath the backing member 43 and secured thereto as by glue (notshown). A fuse 45 may extend through the tile and is illustrated asextending through the button-like portion 46 thereof, as bestillustrated in FIGURE 2. Each of the pillow blocks include a number ofpuffed portions defined by lines of weakness 47 adjacent their edges.When a proper explosive charge 44 is used the pillow blocks peel awayalong the lines of weakness 47 due to the confining effects of thebacking 43 resulting in the wide scattering of the sodium bicarbonate Ginto the flames. If desired, the blocks containing the sodiumbicarbonate and the combustible may be spaced over the ceiling ratherthan each block including the explosive and fire extinguishing material.The noise of such an explosive would serve as a fire alarm as well as ameans of scattering the fire extinguishing medium. If desired any othersuitable explosive-like propelling means may be used in lieu of theparticular explosive means 44.

Present tile ceilings are fiat, however, the construction of the presentsystem permits the use of tile having curves and designs of infinitevariety which gives the designer full range as to shape, texture andcolor without increased costs. Multiple tile units may be used ifdesired.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described usingspecific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, andit is to be understood that changes and variations may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A suspended ceiling for a structure having walls and a ceiling, saidsuspended ceiling including first spaced parallel thin flexible wiresextending across the ceiling in one direction and spaced therefrom,second spaced parallel thin flexible wires extending across the ceilingnormal to said first spaced parallel wires in substantially the sameplane therewith, springs secured on one end thereof adjacent the ends ofsaid first and second wires for maintaining such taut, said springshaving connection adjacent the other end thereof to the walls adjacentthe ceiling, a plurality of thin substantially rectangular shaped panelshaving a width corresponding substantially to the space between saidwires, said panels having a front surface and a peripheral flangeintegral with the edges of said panel and extending rearwardly thereof,said flanges terminating in outwardly turned sections projecting towardthe front of said panels, said sections overlying said wires andmaintaining said panels in coplanar relation, and certain of saidflanges extending directly over said wires while flanges of adjacentpanels extend over adjacent flanges.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 including, a fire extinguishingmedium filling a substantial portion of said panels.

3. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said fire extinglishingmaterial is sodium bicarbonate.

4. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said panels each havespaced indentations therein, and wherein said 5 6 panels havecomplementary concave portions facilitating FOREIGN PATENTS easystacking 60 248 1 4 5. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein each1 126628 3 gf fgz indentation has an aperture therein. 2/1959 Belgiurh.

5 1,275,442 1961 France.

Refe'ences Cited 860,426 1961 Great Britain.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 35,397 1935 Netherlands. 2,750,313 6/1956 Schwartzet al. 52-406 38,318 1936 Netherlands- 2,710,l75 6/1955 J0rn 52-484 X2,710,335 6/1955 Wong 52-144 X 1 FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.2,706,315 4/1955 Price 52144 2,900,929 8/1959 A de S. D. BURKE,Asszstant Exammer. 2,954,838 10/1960 Nuorivaara 52-444 2,967,583 1/1961Jack 5-2 144 CL 2,999,340 9/1961 Macucan 5283 15 52-144, 311, 485, 494

